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Ah, September is just around the corner. Ya know what that means besides school's almost back? IT'S THE END OF THE SUMMER MOVIE SEASON! WAAAAH! No more gratuitous explosions, no more pointless plots meant to fill up the time between chase scenes, no more busting on Michael Bay for spending the equivalent of a nations GNP on explosions. A tear comes to my eye. Sigh.
But it was actually one very good summer unless you're one of the major players in the industry. Ah, but that's ANOTHER story. So what were the highs and lows of the year?
Hey, Did That Movie Come Out? Most Over-looked Movie of the Summer; 'Unleashed.' Hmmmmmmm... we have an action flick with Jet Li. We've got some very cool performances by Morgan Freeman and Bob Hoskins. Wo Ping is doing the fight choreography. The script is by the same dude who did 'Leon The Professional'. Ok, good combination. When do we release this little gem? I know, HOW ABOUT THE WEEK BEFORE 'STAR WARS; REVENGE OF THE SITH!' Aaaaaaagggggghhhhhh! A wonderful movie that really show-cased Jet Li's ability to ACT... and it gets released less then 4 days before 'ROTS' floods the market. Brilliant.
Reggie Hammond and Jack Cates Award - Unlikeliest Buddies in a Flick; Russell Crowe and Paul Giamatti, 'Cinderella Man'. Speaking of bad timing, this is another film that was a joy to watch, but OY talk about getting crushed. Just the same, the chemistry between these two as the hard-luck boxer Braddock and his feisty corner man/trainer is a beauty to behold.
Most Psychotic Villain - Bart, Bob Hoskins, 'Unleashed'. Sure Anakin was psychotic. Palpatine was a megalomaniac. And Doom... is, well Doom. But for the most amazing villain, it's Bart, Danny's 'uncle' from 'Unleashed'. Sure, Hoskins plays the guy as an over-the-top, abusive maniac. That's easy. The VERY hard part is those little moments when Bart ACTS like a tender, hard-working father just trying to make do. Those moments make his character truly evil.
More meat! Most Under-developed Villain - Doom, 'Fantastic 4'. FINALLY the chance to see the legendary dictator of Latvaria at work. Ok no Latvaria. That's ok! No magic. Hey, that's ok too. What's NOT ok is one of the great villains has been whimp-ified into a Donald Trump with armor. Come on, this guy is supposed to make you quiver in terror, not go 'Ya know, my attorney is gonna kick your ass!'
Best Ride - The Tumbler, 'Batman Begins'. Ok, so it's like a giant Humvee on steroids. Ya know what? IT LOOKS LIKE A BADASS MO'FO! The greatest moment; the Tumbler zipping over the rooftops of Gotham using GPS for guidance! Not just a cool comic book moment, but almost PLAUSIBLE by using a GPS to navigate a clear path! Ok, not THAT plausible, but it's pretty dang cool!
Screw Roundhouse Kicks - Best Fight scene in a toilet; 'Unleashed'. Ok, so you KNOW the biiiiiig, baaaaad villain's gotta fight the hero. So you have the massive Final Confrontation. Blah, blah, blah... then they fight in a toilet. Sounds stupid, but keep in mind Wo Ping is doing the choreography. Normally this would turn into a silly joke, ala Jackie Chan. Instead this turns into a tight, contorting, thrilling fight to the death in a space no bigger then your closet. You see the pain, strain, and concentration in such a tight spot. Wow!
Cont. on p. 2